NORTHWEST COLORADO NEWS AND SPORTS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 9TH

HOLIDAY DRIVE SHOWS GENEROSITY OF NORTHWEST COLORADO RESIDENTS

The annual 93-7/102-3 KRAI and 55 Country Holiday Drive, again showed how the residents of Moffat County and Northwest Colorado take care of their own when called upon. In addition to over 2,000 new toys and 4,980 pounds of food, citizens gave over $28,000 in cash during the two day drive. The totals as of Friday night showed $4,585 collected for Advocates Crisis Support Services; $6,632 for Christmas for Seniors; $7,091 for Christmas for Kids and $9,775 for the Interfaith Food Bank. At the conclusion, 93.7/102.3 KRAI and 55 Country Owner Frank Hanel praised all of the volunteers who braved sub zero temperatures “to help make the 15th Annual Holiday Drive the best ever”, and expressed his “admiration for the the people and businesses in the Craig area that are so willing to help their friends and neighbors”. You can see pictures of this year’s Holiday Drive in the photo gallery above.

SENATE CANDIDATE KEN BUCK VISITS HOLIDAY DRIVE

State Senate candidate Ken Buck was in northwest Colorado last week, and stopped by the KRAI and 55 Country Holiday Drive. Buck praised Moffat County residents for their generosity during the drive. He also used the opportunity to promise that if elected, he won’t be a stranger to Northwest Colorado. He said while it may be tough to visit all 64 counties while in office, he will visit more often than his counterpart, Mark Udall has. Buck’s stop was part of a campaign tour across Western Colorado.

CRAIG HOME DESTROYED BY FIRE SATURDAY

The home of Steve Lathrup on West 3rd Street in Craig was destroyed by fire early Saturday morning. Lathrup had just finished thawing out frozen water pipes in his mobile home with a propane torch, when he noticed a burning smell and saw flames. He called 911 after attempting to extinguish the fire. By the time firefighters arrived, the home was fully engulfed. Lathrup and his wife lost everything inside the home. Lathrup, a longtime resident of Craig, said he had successfully used the same process to thaw pipes many times over the past 32 years. The Red Cross and Advocates Crisis Support Services provided assistance to the Lathrups, who are now staying with family members in Craig.

YULE LOG HUNT STARTS TODAY IN STEAMBOAT

The Tread of Pioneers Museum’s Annual Yule Log Hunt begins today. Each year museum staff places the log somewhere in the Steamboat area, and then releases a clue a day as to where it can be found. Those clues will be broadcast each weekday, starting today, on 93.7 102.3 KRAI and 55 Country. Whoever finds the log gets a $150 Steamboat Chamber gift certificate and a framed piece of artwork. The log is never hidden on private property, inside buildings, or in areas that charge fees to enter. A portion of it will always be visible from its hiding place.

COLD SNAP TOO LITTLE TOO LATE TO KILL OF BARK BEETLES

Experts say Colorado’s plunge into a deep freeze is too little and too late to disrupt the population of the destructive pine beetle. Dave Leatherman, a retired Colorado State Forest Service entomologist says that long periods of extreme cold can cut down the pine beetle population, but the pests have already burrowed themselves deep into the trees to protect themselves. Plus, he says, the beetles have changed their chemical physiology to increase the percentage of glycols in their systems. Glycols are a main component in antifreeze. Temperatures would have to drop to minus 30 or lower and stay there for at least five to seven days to affect pine beetle populations between December and February.

MARIJUANA RETAILERS HAVE TROUBLE FINDING CHILD PROOF CONTAINERS

Several owners of recreational marijuana businesses say they are having a hard time finding vendors that make child-resistant packaging, which will be required when the stores open January 1st. All retail pot products leaving shops – from buds to brownies – must be placed in opaque and child-resistant packaging. But Mike Elliott, director of the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, says some businesses are “having an incredibly difficult time” finding the proper packaging. State regulators aren’t sympathetic. Julie Postlethwait, spokeswoman for the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division, says the packaging requirements were the subject of a high-profile debate and took effect October 15th. She adds that it’s disappointing if store owners waited until the last minute. The state can initially fine violators and take more serious actions if problems persist.

GARDNER TRYING TO STOP PAY RAISE FOR HEALTH EXCHANGE CEO

Representative Cory Gardner (CO-04) announced that he plans to introduce legislation today that stops bonuses and pay increases for executives of state health care exchanges. News reports recently documented a case of a CEO of a state exchange seeking increased compensation to an already generous salary. In this particular case, the exchange in which the CEO is charged with running has enrolled just half of the exchange’s own “worst-case projection.” In a statement, Gardner said ““While hundreds of thousands of Coloradans were dealing with cancellation and rate increase notices in October, the CEO of Connect for Health Colorado seemingly had more pressing concerns at hand – making sure that her taxpayer-funded salary grew even larger. In the private sector, increases in compensation are determined by an employee’s ability to do their job and meet performance standards set by their employer; those running state exchanges must not be given special treatment.” He went on to say that those running the exchanges need to put more effort into raising enrollment numbers, and less time figuring out how to make more taxpayer money.

In Wrestling:
Moffat County went 2-3 in duels, beating Grand Valley and Olathe and falling to Montrose, Delta and #1 ranked Paonia.
Hayden took 2nd at a tournament in Granby. Steamboat had two champions at the same tournament.

DENVER BRONCOS

The Denver Broncos beat the Tennessee Titans 51-28 yesterday. The Broncos next game will be at home against San Diego. You can catch that game live on 55 Country, with the pregame at 4:30 and the kickoff at 6:30.